USS CARDINAL (MHC-60)

USS CARDINAL (MHC-60) was an Osprey-class coastal mine hunter of the United States Navy, commissioned on October 18, 1997. Designed for locating, classifying, and neutralizing moored and bottom mines in littoral waters, CARDINAL was equipped with advanced sonar and remotely operated vehicles. The vessel served primarily in the U.S. 5th and 6th Fleet areas of responsibility, contributing to mine countermeasure operations and joint exercises with allied navies. CARDINAL was decommissioned on January 7, 2007, and subsequently transferred to the Egyptian Navy as part of military assistance programs.